--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and…" description: "\"Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.' Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'\" — Annie ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/annie-dillard-509_god_eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-s_1306024.jpg" --- # Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go… ![“Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.' Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/annie-dillard-509_god_eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-s_1306024.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/annie-dillard-509_god_eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-s_1306024.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/annie-dillard-509_god_eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-s_1306024.jpg) > “Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.' Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowledge of moral concepts influences belief in divine judgment; ignorance can exempt one from consequences. **In simple terms:** Knowing about sin affects belief in hell. Key Takeaway Consider how awareness shapes moral responsibility. Themes faith morality knowledge consequence belief Mood inquisitive serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - religious education - parenting - counseling - personal reflection Key Concepts theology ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - Do you think ignorance is a valid excuse for moral failure? - How does knowledge shape your ethical choices? A Different Perspective Ignorance may not truly absolve moral accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eskimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eskimo/) [Eskimo Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eskimo-did-4304582/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Know Eskimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-eskimo-4304581/) [Priest Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest-did-4005437/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sin Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-hell-1681447/) ## Related quotes > [“Eskimo: "If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" Priest: "No, not if you did not know." Eskimo:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-priest-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" "No", said the priest, "not if you did not know."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-no-said-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell? No, said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/an-inuit-hunter-asked-the-local-missionary-priest-if-i-did-not-know/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I thought, I'm not god of truth, but the priest did not even realize you lie to me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/i-thought-i-m-not-god-of-truth-but-the-priest-did-not-even-realize/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Oh God, I do not need your heaven or hell I made good work, found great pleasure! I made sin, hell, even take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/oh-god-i-do-not-need-your-heaven-or-hell-i-made-good-work-found-great/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“As Con and Sin approached the Harrowgate, it flashed and a tank of a blood-bay stallion leaped out, scattering staff and patients. Atop the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/as-con-and-sin-approached-the-harrowgate-it-flashed-and-a-tank-of-a/) [Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/) > [Sin and Hell are married unless repentance proclaims the divorce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/sin-and-hell-are-married-unless-repentance-proclaims-the-divorce/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Sin is hell, grace is heaven; what madness it is to look more at hell than heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/sin-is-hell-grace-is-heaven-what-madness-it-is-to-look-more-at-hell/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [I learned early about the misery and dangers of life, and about the afterlife, about the external punishment which awaited the children of sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-munch/i-learned-early-about-the-misery-and-dangers-of-life-and-about-the/) [Edvard Munch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-munch/) > [Don't let a little sin in; all hell will break loose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/don-t-let-a-little-sin-in-all-hell-will-break-loose/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) > [“For lack of knowledge of the Holy One, we perish in sin of hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita-2/for-lack-of-knowledge-of-the-holy-one-we-perish-in-sin-of-hell/) [Lailah Gifty, Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita-2/) > [“How comes Eskimos haven't turned into icy-cubes? Like ice people?…when they die where do they go? They can't get buried under the grass like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-goody/how-comes-eskimos-haven-t-turned-into-icy-cubes-like-ice-people-when/) [Jade Goody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-goody/) > [Marriage is simply an economic necessity, and so there are no elaborate courtship displays or marriage celebrations among the Eskimo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farb/marriage-is-simply-an-economic-necessity-and-so-there-are-no/) [Peter Farb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farb/) > [Colder than an Eskimo's outhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/colder-than-an-eskimo-s-outhouse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Eskimo has fifty-names for snow because it is important to them; there ought to be as many for love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-eskimo-has-fifty-names-for-snow-because-it-is-important-to-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“...The mockingbird took a single step into the air and dropped. His wings were still folded against his sides as though he were singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mockingbird-took-a-single-step-into-the-air-and-dropped-his-wings/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The sense impressions of one-celled animals are not edited for the brain. This is philosophically interesting in a rather mournful way, since it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-sense-impressions-of-one-celled-animals-are-not-edited-for-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If we were to judge nature by its common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed. In nature, improbabilities are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-we-were-to-judge-nature-by-its-common-sense-or-likelihood-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [For writing a first draft requires from the writer a peculiar internal state which ordinary life does not induce. ... how to set yourself spinning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/for-writing-a-first-draft-requires-from-the-writer-a-peculiar/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a fugitive and a vagabond, a sojourner seeking signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-fugitive-and-a-vagabond-a-sojourner-seeking-signs/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) [Explore all 509 Annie Dillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More Eskimo quotes > [Colder than an Eskimo's outhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/colder-than-an-eskimo-s-outhouse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Marriage is simply an economic necessity, and so there are no elaborate courtship displays or marriage celebrations among the Eskimo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farb/marriage-is-simply-an-economic-necessity-and-so-there-are-no/) [Peter Farb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farb/) > [“How comes Eskimos haven't turned into icy-cubes? Like ice people?…when they die where do they go? They can't get buried under the grass like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-goody/how-comes-eskimos-haven-t-turned-into-icy-cubes-like-ice-people-when/) [Jade Goody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-goody/) > [“The Eskimo has fifty-names for snow because it is important to them; there ought to be as many for love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-eskimo-has-fifty-names-for-snow-because-it-is-important-to-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's killing for fun or profit I can't stand. There's a difference between an Eskimo killing a seal for survival and some dumb broad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-blake/it-s-killing-for-fun-or-profit-i-can-t-stand-there-s-a-difference/) [Amanda Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-blake/) > [“I could be the lone Eskimo, friend of whales and seals." The Panopticon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-fagan/i-could-be-the-lone-eskimo-friend-of-whales-and-seals-the-panopticon/) [Jenn Fagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-fagan/) > [Although I am a voracious plant predator, one has to realize that there is not a human need for fruits and vegetables: just ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-gundry/although-i-am-a-voracious-plant-predator-one-has-to-realize-that/) [Steven Gundry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-gundry/) > [“Eskimo: "If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" Priest: "No, not if you did not know." Eskimo:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-priest-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [In place of science, the Eskimo has only magic to bridge the gap between what he can understand and what is not known. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-farb/in-place-of-science-the-eskimo-has-only-magic-to-bridge-the-gap/) [Peter Farb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-farb/) > [I love... Eskimo Joe's. I have tons of Eskimo Joe's clothes and cups in my house, 'cause I love Eskimo Joe's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-elliott/i-love-eskimo-joe-s-i-have-tons-of-eskimo-joe-s-clothes-and-cups-in/) [Brooke Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-elliott/) > [You will always find some Eskimo ready to instruct the Congolese on how to cope with heatwaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/you-will-always-find-some-eskimo-ready-to-instruct-the-congolese-on/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [“Apropos of Eskimo, I once heard a missionary describe the extraordinary difficulty he had found in translating the Bible into Eskimo. It was useless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-hamilton/apropos-of-eskimo-i-once-heard-a-missionary-describe-the/) [Frederick Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-hamilton/) > [Never open a book with weather. There are exceptions. If you happen to be Barry Lopez, who has more ways to describe ice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/never-open-a-book-with-weather-there-are-exceptions-if-you-happen-to/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“What are you? From where did you come? I have never seen anything like you.” The Creator Raven looked at Man and was  ……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eskimo-creation-myth/what-are-you-from-where-did-you-come-i-have-never-seen-anything-like/) [Eskimo creation myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eskimo-creation-myth/) [Browse all 15 Eskimo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eskimo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.' Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Annie Dillard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-priest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eskimo" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-priest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/annie-dillard-509_god_eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-s_1306024.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/annie-dillard-509_god_eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-s_1306024.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/annie-dillard-509_god_eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-s_1306024.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.'…” — Annie Dillard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Annie Dillard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Eskimo: 'If I did not know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-priest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/eskimo-if-i-did-not-know-about-god-and-sin-would-i-go-to-hell-priest/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```